VMware 3V0-23.25 Real Exam Questions [October 2026 Update]

vSAN ESA versus OSA is the technical distinction that most clearly separates candidates who have worked with older vSAN implementations from those who have specifically studied the architecture introduced with vSAN 8.0 and refined in VCF 9.0. The Original Storage Architecture (OSA) organized storage into disk groups – each disk group containing one or more SSD cache drives and multiple capacity HDDs or SSDs. Write I/O hit the cache tier first, then destaged to capacity. The Express Storage Architecture (ESA) eliminates the disk group concept entirely. In ESA, all-NVMe drives form a single flat storage pool with no separate cache tier – every drive participates in both write staging and capacity simultaneously. This architectural difference cascades into specific behavioral differences the exam tests: ESA doesn’t support magnetic HDDs (NVMe-only), ESA’s minimum cluster requirements differ from OSA, ESA handles RAID-5/RAID-6 erasure coding differently (ESA can do erasure coding from the start; OSA required a minimum of four nodes for RAID-5), and critically – ESA processes data efficiency services in a specific order that differs from OSA. The confirmed exam content from first-hand taker reports: ESA compresses data before encrypting it at the DOM Client layer. This ordering matters because compressing already-encrypted data (pseudo-random bytes) achieves no space savings – compression must precede encryption to be effective. A candidate who knows OSA’s compression and encryption as independent, separately configurable operations will apply that model to ESA questions and get wrong answers about the ESA data efficiency service architecture.

The VMware 3V0-23.25 (Advanced VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 Storage) is the VCAP-level certification for storage expertise within VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0. It validates the ability to design, deploy, configure, manage, and troubleshoot advanced storage solutions in VCF environments, with deep emphasis on vSAN ESA. 60 items, 135-minute appointment, scaled passing score of 300. Multiple question formats: multiple choice, multiple-selection, build-list, matching, drag-and-drop, point-and-click, hot-area. Available December 15, 2025+. Experience required: 12-18 months hands-on with VMware vSAN including ESA.

Cert Empire’s 3V0-23.25 exam questions cover all five official sections at the ESA-specific technical depth and scenario-driven format the VCAP exam requires.

Exam Snapshot

Five Official Exam Sections

Section 1: IT Architectures, Technologies, Standards

HCI (Hyper-Converged Infrastructure) vs. Traditional SAN:

Traditional SAN separates compute from storage – servers connect to a shared storage array over Fibre Channel or iSCSI SAN fabric. The storage array is a separate system with dedicated management. This provides storage flexibility and consolidation but adds cost, complexity, and a separate management domain.

HCI (as implemented by vSAN) integrates compute and storage in the same physical nodes. Each ESXi host contributes its local storage to the vSAN cluster, and the vSAN software presents this combined capacity as a shared datastore. This simplifies operations (single management plane), improves density, and eliminates the dedicated storage array.

The exam tests when HCI is superior to traditional SAN (simpler operations, better TCO for appropriate workloads, rack density) and when traditional SAN is superior (workloads requiring specific storage protocol features, maximum IOPS density on purpose-built storage arrays, storage-compute independent scaling when compute and storage growth rates differ significantly).

Storage architecture types and their use cases: The exam tests when block storage (vSAN, FC SAN, iSCSI – suitable for VMs, databases), file storage (NFS, SMB – suitable for shared file access, home directories, file-sharing applications), and object storage (S3-compatible – suitable for unstructured data at scale, backup, content distribution) are each appropriate.

Section 2: VMware Cloud Foundation Products and Solutions

vSAN ESA vs. OSA – The Most Heavily Tested Technical Distinction:

ESA compression-before-encryption – confirmed first-hand exam content: ESA compresses data before encrypting it at the DOM Client layer. This sequence is not configurable – it is the ESA architecture. The rationale: encrypting before compressing produces pseudo-random output that cannot be compressed. By compressing first, data efficiency is achieved before the encryption step renders the data incompressible.

VCF Workload Domains and storage: A VCF Workload Domain is an isolated pool of compute, network, and storage resources for a specific workload or tenant. Each Workload Domain has its own vCenter and its own vSAN cluster. The management domain hosts VCF management components; workload domains host customer workloads. The exam tests how vSAN storage is provisioned per Workload Domain and what SDDC Manager’s role is in storage lifecycle management.

Section 3: Plan and Design the VMware Solution

Storage Policy-Based Management (SPBM):

SPBM is the mechanism through which VM storage requirements are expressed as policies that the infrastructure satisfies. Instead of placing a VM on a specific datastore and hoping it meets requirements, the administrator defines a storage policy (RAID level, number of failures to tolerate, space efficiency settings) and assigns that policy to the VM. vSAN reads the policy and configures the VM’s data accordingly.

FTT (Failures to Tolerate) and RAID selection:

FTT defines how many failures (host or drive) the storage policy tolerates. RAID-1 mirrors data; RAID-5 and RAID-6 use erasure coding with lower storage overhead.

A key ESA advantage: RAID-5 requires only 3 hosts in ESA versus 4 in OSA – enabling erasure coding storage efficiency in smaller clusters.

Capacity planning for vSAN: The exam tests how to calculate required raw capacity: account for the protection overhead (RAID level), the operational reserve (default 25% headroom that vSAN requires for internal operations and rebalancing), and the actual VM data. If the design requires 100 TB usable with RAID-5 (FTT=1), raw capacity needed = 100 TB ÷ (1 – 0.33) ÷ (1 – 0.25) (overhead simplification for exam purposes).

Stretched cluster design: A stretched cluster spans two sites, with a witness host on a third site providing the tiebreaker function. The exam tests stretched cluster design requirements: equal number of hosts at each site, synchronous replication of data between sites (each site has a full copy of all VM data), the witness host requirements (must be on a third separate site, does not hold VM data – only metadata), and network requirements (vSAN inter-site link bandwidth, maximum latency constraints for synchronous replication – typically 5ms RTT between sites for production workloads).

2-node cluster design: For edge or remote office locations requiring minimal footprint. Two ESXi hosts form the vSAN cluster; a witness host (which can be a small virtual appliance) provides the quorum tiebreaker. The exam tests 2-node cluster minimum requirements and the witness host placement (witness must not be at either of the two primary sites to be effective as a tiebreaker).

Section 4: Install, Configure, Administrate the VMware Solution

Deploying vSAN clusters in VCF Workload Domains:

In VCF 9.0, vSAN clusters are created and managed through SDDC Manager rather than directly through vCenter (as in standalone vSAN deployments). The exam tests the SDDC Manager workflow for creating a Workload Domain with vSAN storage: adding hosts to the SDDC Manager inventory, creating the Workload Domain (which provisions a new vCenter and vSAN cluster), and configuring the initial storage policy.

vSAN Encryption – Data-at-Rest Encryption (D@RE):

D@RE encrypts VM data stored on vSAN capacity drives. The exam tests the encryption architecture: vSAN uses an external Key Management Server (KMS) or vSphere Native Key Provider (VNKP) for key management. Encryption keys are requested from the KMS when needed and never stored persistently on the ESXi hosts.

Shallow rekey: Changes the Data Encryption Key (DEK) that encrypts the actual data, without re-encrypting the data itself. Fast operation – used for periodic key rotation.

Deep rekey: Changes the Key Encryption Key (KEK) and requires re-encrypting all data on the vSAN datastore. Slower, more resource-intensive – used when the KMS itself must be changed or when key material is compromised.

The exam tests when each rekey type is appropriate and the operational impact of each.

Data-in-transit encryption: Separate from D@RE, data-in-transit encryption encrypts vSAN traffic between ESXi hosts on the vSAN network. The exam tests that data-in-transit encryption is independently configurable from D@RE (they can be used together, independently, or neither).

vSAN File Services:

vSAN File Services enables vSAN to serve NFS and SMB file shares directly from the vSAN datastore – extending vSAN’s block storage capability to file storage without a separate NAS device. The exam tests File Services configuration requirements (a dedicated IP pool for File Services agents, minimum host count), supported protocols (NFS v3 and v4.1, SMB 3.x), and use cases (container persistent volumes requiring ReadWriteMany access, shared application directories).

vSAN iSCSI Target Services:

vSAN iSCSI Target Services exposes vSAN storage as iSCSI LUNs, accessible by hosts that are not part of the vSAN cluster (physical servers, non-vSphere hosts). The exam tests iSCSI Target Services configuration: creating iSCSI targets, defining LUNs, configuring IQN-based access control, and the performance implications of iSCSI Target Services (additional protocol overhead compared to direct vSAN access from vSphere hosts).

vSAN Data Protection:

vSAN native data protection (introduced with vSAN 8.0 for ESA) provides:

Snapshots: Point-in-time recovery within the vSAN datastore. The exam tests vSAN snapshots as distinct from vSphere snapshots – vSAN snapshots use a native efficient snapshot format rather than the traditional redo log approach.

Replication: Object-level asynchronous replication to another vSAN cluster at a remote site, with configurable RPO schedules.

VMware Live Recovery: Orchestrates recovery from replication – automated failover and failback between protected and recovery sites.

Kubernetes and vSAN storage (CSI Driver):

When VCF hosts a vSphere with Tanzu Supervisor (for Kubernetes workloads), VMs and containers request persistent storage through the Kubernetes Persistent Volume (PV) mechanism. The vSphere CSI Driver translates Kubernetes PVC (Persistent Volume Claim) requests into vSAN storage policy-based provisioning. The exam tests:

• SPBM integration: A Kubernetes StorageClass references a vSAN storage policy, ensuring that dynamically provisioned volumes receive the correct data protection.
• ReadWriteOnce vs. ReadWriteMany: vSAN block volumes support ReadWriteOnce (one pod at a time); vSAN File Services enables ReadWriteMany (multiple pods simultaneously).
• Volume expansion: Online volume expansion for vSAN ESA-backed PVCs.

Section 5: Troubleshoot and Optimize the VMware Solution

vSAN monitoring in VCF: SDDC Manager provides cluster-level health and storage utilization visibility. vCenter provides vSAN-specific monitoring: the vSAN Skyline Health dashboard (checking cluster health across dozens of vSAN health categories), capacity views, performance charts (IOPS, throughput, latency per VM or datastore), and congestion analysis.

Common vSAN troubleshooting scenarios the exam tests:

Object health issues: When a VM’s storage objects are in a “reduced redundancy” state (below the FTT specified in the policy), the cluster is performing policy compliance repair. The exam tests what reduced redundancy means, how long vSAN waits before beginning repair (object repair delay – configurable, default 60 minutes), and what conditions prevent repair (insufficient cluster capacity or hosts for the required FTT).

vSAN resyncing: When hosts rejoin the cluster after maintenance or failure, vSAN resyncs data to restore full redundancy. The exam tests how resync traffic affects cluster performance and how to monitor resync progress.

Stretched cluster failures: The exam tests what happens when one site of a stretched cluster becomes unreachable – whether the surviving site continues serving VMs (yes, with the witness host’s quorum vote), and what happens when the witness host becomes unreachable (both sites enter a split-brain risk state where neither can form a quorum and VMs may stop).

5 Study Tips for VMware 3V0-23.25

• Tip 1: Study vSAN ESA architecture specifically – single flat NVMe pool (no disk groups), NVMe-only requirement, RAID-5 with 3 nodes (versus 4 for OSA), and the compression-before-encryption sequence at the DOM Client layer. These ESA-specific details are confirmed first-hand exam content.
• Tip 2: Study Storage Policy-Based Management (SPBM) at the FTT/RAID calculation level – minimum host requirements, storage overhead percentages, and the difference between RAID-1 and erasure coding (RAID-5/6) for specific cluster sizes.
• Tip 3: Study stretched cluster requirements – equal hosts per site, witness host on a third site, maximum inter-site latency, and what happens in each failure scenario (one site down, witness down, both primary sites and witness isolated).
• Tip 4: Study vSAN Data Protection (snapshots, replication, VMware Live Recovery) as native vSAN capabilities distinct from traditional vSphere snapshots.
• Tip 5: Practice with Cert Empire’s 3V0-23.25 exam questions in scenario-driven format at ESA-specific technical depth – the VCAP format tests applied knowledge, not memorized facts.

Best Study Resources

• Cert Empire 3V0-23.25 exam questions PDF and practice simulator (2026 edition).
• Broadcom official 3V0-23.25 exam guide (docs.broadcom.com/doc/storage-guide).
• VMware vSAN documentation: vSAN ESA Configuration Guide, VCF 9.0 Storage Administration.
• VMware Hands-on Labs (HOL): HOL-2328-01-HCI (vSAN configuration lab).

Why Candidates Choose Cert Empire for VMware 3V0-23.25 Preparation

✔ vSAN ESA vs. OSA distinction questions. Our questions test ESA’s flat NVMe pool, compression-before-encryption ordering, 3-node RAID-5, and the absence of disk groups – the confirmed ESA-specific details first-hand exam takers report.

✔ SPBM and RAID calculation scenario questions. We test minimum host requirements, storage overhead, and which RAID policy satisfies described availability and capacity requirements.

✔ Stretched cluster failure scenario questions. Our questions test each stretch cluster failure mode (site down, witness down, combined failures) and what the cluster’s response is.

✔ Kubernetes/CSI and vSAN integration questions. We test ReadWriteOnce vs. ReadWriteMany access mode selection and StorageClass-to-SPBM policy mapping.

✔ Backed by a full money-back guarantee. If our exam questions do not help you pass, we refund your purchase.

FAQ’s

What is VMware 3V0-23.25?

3V0-23.25 is the Advanced VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 Storage exam, earning the VCAP – VMware Cloud Foundation Storage (VCAP-VCF Storage) certification. It validates advanced ability to design, deploy, configure, manage, and troubleshoot storage solutions in VCF 9.0 environments, with deep focus on vSAN ESA.

What is the difference between vSAN ESA and OSA?

OSA (Original Storage Architecture) uses disk groups with SSD cache and capacity drives. ESA (Express Storage Architecture) uses a flat NVMe-only storage pool with no separate cache tier, enabling RAID-5 with 3 nodes, and processes data efficiency in a fixed order (compression before encryption at the DOM Client layer).

What is the passing score?

300 on a scaled scoring method. The exam runs 135 minutes (appointment time) with 60 items in multiple question formats.

How much hands-on experience is required?

Broadcom recommends 12-18 months of hands-on experience with VMware vSAN, specifically including ESA. The exam is highly scenario-driven and tests applied operational knowledge rather than conceptual awareness.

When did 3V0-23.25 become available?

New registrations for the 3V0-23.25 exam opened December 15, 2025, as part of VMware’s VCAP-VCF 9.0 certification suite.

Related Certifications Worth Exploring

VMware 3V0-23.25 certified professionals expanding their VCAP-VCF portfolio will find our VMware 3V0-25.25 (Advanced VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 Networking) exam questions page covers the networking VCAP credential that pairs with storage expertise for complete VCF advanced administration coverage. For those who want to add the VCF design credential alongside administration, our VMware 3V0-21.25 (Advanced VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 Automation) exam questions page covers the automation and orchestration VCAP for VCF.